Business Link U

HC Deb 28 October 2002 vol 391 cc530-1W

Brian Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost has been of establishing the Business Link U; and whether all Small Business Service and Business Link staff will be required to undertake training through this arrangement. [76834]

Mr. Timms

The cost of establishing the Business Link U (BLU) has been £1.42 million.

BLU, the virtual 'corporate university' for business development professionals, aims to meet the key learning priorities of the network of Small Business Service (SBS), Business Link Operator (BLO) and delivery partners. It will identify, capture and share what works well across the network and bring in excellence from outside. All SBS and BLO staff are not required to undertake training through the BLU. However, as BLU becomes synonymous with high quality learning, we expect it to become the preferred choice across the network.